Diocesan Life

Order of St. Luke

The International Order of St. Luke the Physician (OSL) is an interdenominational group clergy and lay people who believe in the apostolic practice of healing as taught by our Lord, Jesus Christ. The order believes that God uses many spiritual and medical avenues for healing, and that these should be supportive of one another. Members learn how to pray for healing for themselves and others through prayer, annointing and the laying on of hands.

The Greater Buffalo Chapter meets on the first Monday of each month at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Orchard Park, NY. E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 716-652-6031 for more information.

The Alleluia Chapter meets on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at St. Martin's in the Field's, Grand Island. For more information about this chapter, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

WNYers lend helping hands in Massachusetts

Seven hardy souls from St. Mark’s Church in Orchard Park found out, up close and personal, what it meant to experience the wrath of Mother Nature and the devastating loss afterwards. The disaster was a tornado that hit the Springfield, MA, area in April 2011. The up close and personal part involved cutting felled trees, clearing debris and providing support to the victims of the storm by just being there to listen and console, five months afterwards.

We seven met with 80+ Episcopalian volunteers the evening of Sept 2 at St. Marks, East Longmeadow, MA. The Church provided a lovely evening meal for us, explained the weekend’s activities and ended with evening prayers. Early the next morning we were separated into smaller groups of 7 or 8 and given our assignments. Local volunteers provided their personal cars to take us to our sites. Many of the men brought their trusty chainsaws. They were quaking with excitement in anticipation of using their power tools! Many of their chainsaws were dusty with non-use, so imagine the anticipation of their “Tim the Tool Man Taylor” moment when they powered up their saws the next morning! The women were not allowed to use the saws. (None of us knew how to use them anyway!) We were allowed to lift, tote, stack and toss brush and logs. It was quite a sight to see the geriatric set sawing and tossing—holding their own against younger workers!

Clergy Collegiality

All clergy serving the Diocese of Western New York are invited to participate in the following gatherings:

Renewal of Vows Service

April 3, 2012 (Tuesday of Holy Week)
11am-1:30pm @ St. Paul's Cathedral
RSVP regrets only, directly to the Bishop
Fellowship, Eucharist & Renewal of Vows, followed by free lunch of simple soup & bread.

Book Group

Thursday, April 19, 2012
6-8pm @ the Diocesan Center
No RSVP necessary.
First of triannual clergy meeting wherein a pre-selected book is discuss with the bishop over a free dinner of simple soup & bread.
Spring book selection: Christianity After Religion by Diana Butler Bass.

Flyer - Christianity after Religion

Save these dates!

Clergy Conference

Friday-Saturday, June 8-9, 2012
4pm Friday to 4pm Saturday @ Bellinger Hall, Chautauqua Institute
Cost: $40
More information and registration materials will be forthcoming.

Clergy Carnival

Sunday, July 22, 2012
3pm @ the Diocesan Center

Diocesan Convention

Friday-Saturday, October 26-27, 2012
Chautauqua Suites Meeting & Expo Center, Mayville, NY

Clergy Day

Saturday, November 17, 2012
9:30am-3pm @ the Diocesan Center
Cost: $10, lunch included
RSVP to St. Paul’s, Harris Hill

Third Thursdays Book Group

September 20, 2012
April 18, 2013
June 20, 2013
November 21, 2013
Books TBA - Submit your suggestions at clergy events!

Download 2012 Clergy Collegiality Gatherings

Download 2013 Clergy Collegiality Gatherings

A Harvest of Grace - Call for Work

Intent to Display Deadline: 10/1/2012 (Download Intent to Display Form)
Deadline for Submissions: Saturday, November 3, 2012
Eligibility: Must attend an Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Western New York

Download Harvest of Grace Poster

A Harvest of Grace is sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York, 1064 Brighton Rd., Tonawanda NY. This year’s show is a one-day festival exploring the meaning of God’s grace as expressed in the visual arts and performing arts. The day-long festival includes an art exhibit, as well as musical performances and skits portraying significant moments in church history. Admission to the festival is free.

Grace may be defined as the connection between humans and the divine. Artists may draw inspiration from the following scripture selected by Bishop Franklin for this event:

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, God will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving-the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God." II Corinthians 9:10-12

There will also be a separate but concurrent show for children’s/youth art. Guidelines for that show will be forthcoming. Please watch this page for details.

The Diocesan Art Show was conceived by the Diocesan Center Art & Garden Subcommittee to carry out the Center's mission of strengthening the diocesan community through events that draw people together to inform, educate, inspire and celebrate their diverse interests and talents.

Important Dates

Intent to Display Deadline: 10/1/2012 (Download Intent to Display Form)
Deadline for submissions: Saturday, November 3.
Art should arrive at the Diocesan Center weekdays only between Monday, October 15 and Friday, November 2 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., unless other arrangements are made. Please call 716-881-0660 x22 before coming to drop off any artwork.

The art show will open from Noon to 5 pm on Sunday, November 11, 2012.

Art that has not been sold may be picked up between November 13 and 16, 2012.

Submission requirements

Art may be in any media, including 2- or 3-dimensional: prints, paintings, photography, sculpture, textile, and mixed media. (No video)
Art must have a way of being displayed, such as being framed and having a wire or hook in the back of the artwork.
Submissions may include up to 5 works of art that fit the theme for the show.
Submissions should include:
Artist’s name and contact information
Artist website
Title of artwork and date created
Size of the art or size of art framed (if framed)
Type of media
Price
Artist biography or resume

Additional information

Artist does not need to be present for the hanging of the art. Though not required, it would be wonderful for the artist to be present the day of the show. The artist is responsible for shipping the art or delivery, properly wrapped and protected. The artist agrees to pick up or arrange for pick up of the art at the end of the show or make arrangements and pay for for shipping.

There will be a minimum 90%-10% split of any sales of art; the artist will receive 90% and the Diocesan Center will retain 10%.

More Information

For questions regarding art requirements, please contact: Nancy Craig of the Art Committee at 716-662-5281.
For questions about delivering art to the Diocesan Center, you may contact Laurie Wozniak at 716-881-0660 x22 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Restoration Project Breathes Life, Hope into Batavia Congregation

stjamesbt by Laurie Kaiser
Possibly as soon as Easter, St. James Episcopal Church in Batavia will celebrate a personal renewal and resurrection of its own. The church's bell will joyfully ring again after more than two years of remaining silent. The front doors once again will swing open to welcome parishioners inside. Neither bell nor front door has been able to be used due to the risk of falling rocks and mortar from the deteriorating bell tower in the 104-year-old church.

Thanks to the work of a small but dedicated congregation, along with young people in the community and even bottle redemption centers, St. James secured the $500,000 necessary to restore the historic bell tower.